Retail stores pinning hopes on after-Christmas buyers
No sooner did Christmas end than shoppers were back out in the nation's malls. And given what's turning out to be a disappointing season, retailers are hoping consumers will be doing more buying than returning this week.

Business today - December 27, 2000
Camino Real Hotel to become Hilton
EL PASO The 88-year-old Camino Real Hotel, where spectators once gathered on the roof to watch the Mexican revolution just across the border, is expected to become a Hilton.

Be it ECU or whomever, Tech needs to beat someone in bowl
He started the season tying a theme from a John Wayne movie to a theme for Texas Tech football. Mike Leach was a first-time head coach; thus, he was new to the banquet circuit, and it sometimes took him a while to wind his way through a story.

Charting A New Course
ONE OF THE MANY assets of Reese Air Force Base was a nine-hole golf course that was built for base personnel. The base closed more than three years ago, and the golf course is about to be sold to private landowners.

Tech Research Dollars
CONGRESS GAVE TEXAS TECH some nice Christmas gifts last week before the lawmakers recessed for the holidays. It handed Tech $4.8 million for three key research projects.

Mayor Sitton's Panel
WE BELIEVE THAT LUBBOCK Mayor Windy Sitton will represent West Texas very well as a representative on a Texas Department of Transportation Committee to define the state's transportation goals and priorities.

A Chance At College
GETTING A COLLEGE DEGREE takes a lot of time, a lot of work and a lot of money. It requires great personal dedication, and most students depend on support, financial and otherwise, from their families.

A Chance At College
GETTING A COLLEGE DEGREE takes a lot of time, a lot of work and a lot of money. It requires great personal dedication, and most students depend on support, financial and otherwise, from their families.

Parking Place Poetry
OPPORTUNITIES FOR POETRY abound in America's urban centers and two senior architect students at Texas Tech have been honored by the American Institute of Architects in Cincinnati for proving that point.

Designated Corridor
LUBBOCK HAD TO WAIT until the last day of the session for Congress to designate a route for the proposed Ports-to-Plains trade corridor and make the project eligible for Borders and Corridors Funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, but the wait was worth it.

Mayor Sitton's Panel
WE BELIEVE THAT LUBBOCK Mayor Windy Sitton will represent West Texas very well as a representative on a Texas Department of Transportation Committee to define the state's transportation goals and priorities.

Frenship schools likely to tap into reserve funds
Frenship Independent School District suffered the most of any school district in Texas when a 1998 appropriations bill cut back its funding so much so that the district is expected to dip into reserve funds this year to cover the shortfall.
It's the first time the school district has had to spend reserve money, Supt. Paul Whitton said.

Alone or with Bobby Hatfield, Bill Medley is righteous
Bill Medley has one of those voices that's instantly recognizable from the moment he opens his mouth.
With partner Bobby Hatfield in the Righteous Brothers, he practically invented the blue-eyed soul sound that influenced everyone from Rod Stewart to Michael Bolton.

What's hot in the record stores
Don Byron "A Fine Line: Arias & Lieder" (Blue Note)
Few contemporary jazz musicians are more interesting than clarinetist Don Byron, even when his ideas don't quite fulfill their promise.

It's time to rant and rave about pop trends
Well, it's that time again. That time when all the rage, bile and utter disgust with mainstream pop music trends have built up and up and up and up and is now about to explode all over the pages of this newspaper in the form of the letters of the language, neatly arranged in systematic, yet caustic, groupings better known as a rant.
So without further ado, it is time to unleash the rage, bile and disgust. Stand back. It won't be pretty.

Entertainment/briefly - December 27, 2000
Salute to "M*A*S*H"
American Movie Classics marks the 30th anniversary of "M-A-S-H" with an episode of "Backstory," showing 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Interviews with director Robert Altman, stars Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould and Sally Kellerman are part of the series that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of classic films. The program is dedicated to the film's writer, Ring Lardner Jr., who won an Oscar and who died last month at 85.

Series seeks teen-agers
"Outward Bound," a reality-based TV series, is conducting nationwide auditions for teen-agers who want to participate in the program's newest wilderness adventure.

Insipid Ramblings
I don't mind smokers in restaurants, as long as they are in a smoking section. What I find far more annoying is the inconsiderate dimwit at the next table shouting and laughing into his cell phone. More than once I have been subjected to the insipid ramblings of such a loser throughout my meal.

Judicial Activism?
As a former citizen of Lubbock (I have moved because technical job opportunities in Lubbock do not exist), I still read The A-J (via www.lubbockonline.com).

Forced To InhaleRe: The letter, "Don't Pass Smoking Ban" (A-J, 12-18).
In response, yes, we all have a choice in our actions. But I do not believe that other people should suffer because of our choices. That is basically what happens at a restaurant that has a smoking section. The non-smokers choose not to smoke, but yet we are forced to inhale other people's smoke.

Honk If You Love ...
Glad I got my "honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker at the mall. The uplifting experiences followed immediately. I found out that lots of people love Jesus; when I was stopped at a light on Slide Road, and did not notice the light had changed.

Sharp Is Role Model
To those two or three negative letters that have been written regarding Marsha Sharp Freeway: The questions have been: Who in 30 years will remember Marsha Sharp? Who could forget her? She has always stood for fairness, love of the game and the advancement of women's sports. One of the greatest role models in women's history and she lives in Lubbock. Lucky us to have her.

Everybody's Air
I admire the courage and initiative of the 5th grader and other students trying to change our city's public health policy! Most smokers probably feel smoking bans violate their rights, but smokers' rights stop where their smoke enters everybody's air!

LISD Transfer
LISD Transfer LetterOn Dec. 14, I received the mail and sorted through the magazines, Christmas cards, and other letters. I noticed that there was a letter from Lubbock ISD.

Skatepark Benefits
I think the city of Lubbock should build a skatepark for skaters, so we can have a safe place to go. Building a skatepark would be good because it would get all the skaters together and get them out of the busy streets like University.

Insipid Ramblings
I don't mind smokers in restaurants, as long as they are in a smoking section. What I find far more annoying is the inconsiderate dimwit at the next table shouting and laughing into his cell phone. More than once I have been subjected to the insipid ramblings of such a loser throughout my meal.

Monumental Task
Re: The letter, "Head Stuck in Sand?" (A-J, 12-14).
In response to the above mentioned letter in today's A-J, I find it extremely ironic that any Democrat would complain about the recent events in Florida.

LISD Transfer
LISD Transfer LetterOn Dec. 14, I received the mail and sorted through the magazines, Christmas cards, and other letters. I noticed that there was a letter from Lubbock ISD.

Job Shadow Day
Because so many people in Lubbock have been concerned with the lack of positive role models for youth, we would like to share with you a unique upcoming event that fosters relationships between young people and caring adults. Almost 80 percent of high school students are now working throughout their high school careers, so employers are taking the place of civic and church group leaders as the mentors for adolescents.

Laws Should Protect
Re: "Skateboarder's Request" (A-J, 12-15). I hope you get a skateboard park, and I hope that people in their cars pay more attention to skateboarders because of your letter. However, you need to know that it may not get done. Some people just don't care. Let me explain.

Count Your Blessings
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75 percent of this world.

Insurance Industry
My daughter was involved in an automobile accident that was not her fault. The insurance company wanted to settle medical for a mere $200. The agent never gave her any information and never acted very interested in doing anything. Even with sending copies of receipts several times, even registered mail, they were ignored.

Sharp Is Role Model
To those two or three negative letters that have been written regarding Marsha Sharp Freeway: The questions have been: Who in 30 years will remember Marsha Sharp? Who could forget her? She has always stood for fairness, love of the game and the advancement of women's sports. One of the greatest role models in women's history and she lives in Lubbock. Lucky us to have her.

Carbon Copy Of Ballots?
Re: The letter to the editor "Elect By Popular Vote" (A-J, 11-17). Since some people will not accept the tally of ballots, I have a suggestion: All ballots should have a carbon copy (you will keep up with your own copy) and you must sign each ballot for it to be accepted. This would clear the matter of guessing the intention of the voter, or would this be too simple?

Intent Of Ballot
Do we want every vote to count? The only thing I can think of that would be worse than my vote not counting, would be to have another person assume to know the intent of my ballot and cast a vote that I did not intend to cast.

Judicial Activism?
As a former citizen of Lubbock (I have moved because technical job opportunities in Lubbock do not exist), I still read The A-J (via www.lubbockonline.com).

Chickpea dip makes great appetizer
This dip with a Mediterranean flavor can be made with canned or cooked dry-packaged chickpeas or navy beans. It's a useful variation on the dip theme to offer as a party spread for those who prefer meatless appetizers.

Recipe Exchange - December 27, 2000
Red sauce makes delicious dipping
Shannon Smith requested a recipe for red marinara sauce served with cheese sticks at Chili's. An anonymous reader sent in the following recipe:

Festive holiday favorites
The holidays are a time to celebrate family, friends and traditions. Holiday meals build lasting memories of favorite foods enjoyed with loved ones.
Fresh ham, Dijon mustard and wine combine for a simply elegant menu that brings a special touch to holiday gatherings.

Move over, gnomes
With a sad expression on his face, he looks down stoically at the $65 tag on his toe.
Though his concrete wings keep him firmly on the ground, this little angel's mission is simple: get bought, then beautify his new owner's garden.

Weather-related trauma piles on work at hospitals
Fractured bones, assorted injuries from car accidents and cardiac arrest from shoveling snow are among the weather-related trauma cases that have been keeping local emergency rooms busy the past two days.

Man fights to save 'tree of life'
Jeff Mills got a late start this year stringing more lights to his "tree of life," but Tuesday morning he got an early start in trying to keep it alive.

Treasure under the tree
Some dropped big hints, and some got big surprises for Christmas, but all of them had to work.

The onslaught of winter
More than 8 inches of snow pounded Lubbock on Tuesday, grinding travel to a halt and thwarting what is traditionally one of the season's busiest shopping days.
As much as a foot of snow was reported in other parts of the South Plains, and the Depart-ment of Public Safety and Texas Department of Transportation said driving conditions were extremely hazardous.

Winter sinks icy claws into South Plains
Icy mist paralyzed Christmas Day air travel, coated roads with a treacherous glaze and caused numerous power outages across Lubbock on Monday night as a massive winter storm continued to linger over the South Plains.
A trace of precipitation was recorded at Lubbock Inter-national Airport Monday along with a high of 27. The forecast for a White Christmas in Lubbock failed to materialize as of 11 p.m. only an incessant gloom prevailed.

Keep your back in good shape during cold weather
AKRON, Ohio -- With the winter months come colder weather, snow, ice and the possibility of back and spine injuries. Dr. Richard S. Brower, orthopedic surgeon at Summa Health System, in Akron, Ohio, recommends these tips:
n Know your limitations. Be honest with yourself and how fit you are.

Salmonella resistant to kids' antibiotic
CHICAGO {AP} Salmonella illnesses resistant to the standard drug used to treat serious forms of the infection in children are emerging nationwide, government researchers warn.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented 13 cases of salmonella infections resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone between 1996 and 1998. Three victims were hospitalized, but none died.

Web site gives much information about rheumatic diseases
The rheumatic disease spectrum is one of the most fertile areas of scientific research today. New drugs, alternative treatments and health care products are being developed at a rapid pace to alleviate the pain of millions who suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, gout, sclerodoma and other debilitating rheumatic diseases.
ArthritisCentral (arthritiscentral.com), developed by the San Antonio-based Arthritis Diagnostic & Treatment Center, pulls together many of the latest happenings in this field. The site answers your medical questions, addresses concerns about treatments and shows the implications of research breakthroughs with regard to rheumatic diseases.

Bush team to find 'whistle clean' White House
WASHINGTON {AP} The White House is the hub of government, yet the new staff that walks into the West Wing on Inauguration Day will be lucky to find a scrap of paper to jot down a phone number.

Census Bureau to reveal sketchy results this week
WASHINGTON {AP} It spent millions on advertising, hired temporary workers to knock on strangers' doors and weathered its share of political controversy. Now, the Census Bureau is poised to release figures that will remake the congressional map and document changing population.

NATION/briefly - December 27, 2000
Travelers' ire prompts police visit
SEATAC, Wash. They expected a Christmas of sun and surf in Hawaii. Instead, dozens of would-be travelers got chilly drizzle, two canceled flights and a visit from police before their plane finally left for the islands Tuesday two days late.

Bush daughter recovering from surgery
AUSTIN {AP} President-elect Bush, his parents and other family members flew to a Florida vacation spot Tuesday, while one of Bush's twin daughters recovered in a Texas hospital after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. The president-elect's wife, Laura Bush, stayed behind to help care for her daughter.

Bush's daughter Jenna undergoes appendectomy at Austin hospital
AUSTIN {AP} A daughter of President-elect Bush was admitted Monday to a hospital to have her appendix removed after suffering from abdominal pains.
Jenna Bush, a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, was in stable condition at St. David's Hospital, near the governor's mansion. Hospital officials said she would remain there overnight.

Employee opens fire at work, killing seven
WAKEFIELD, Mass. {AP} A heavily armed employee opened fire in the offices of a computer consulting company Tuesday, killing seven people before being wrestled to the ground by police, authorities said.
The gunman, who was armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, was sitting in the lobby of the building when police found him and had to subdue him, prosecutors said.

Ida Mae Oney
PADUCAH Memorial services for Ida Mae Oney, 71, of Paducah will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Seigler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Keith Prather, pastor of the Missionary Baptist Church in Paducah, officiating.

Jerry Coomer
McCAMEY Services for Jerry H. Coomer, 79, of McCamey will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church in McCamey with the Rev. Jim Hill officiating.

Matt Walker
TATUM, N.M. Funeral services for Matt Walker, 90, of Tatum, N.M., will be 1 p.m. Thursday in Mount Zion Baptist Church in Tatum with the Rev. Jackson officiating.

Robert Brooks
MEADOW Services for Robert Sanders "Corky" Brooks, 73, of Meadow will be at 2 p.m. today at Meadow United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Titus and the Rev. Ken McClung officiating.

Elizabeth Merrick
LAMESA Services for Elizabeth Merrick, 95, of Lamesa will be at 3 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lee Crouch officiating.

Lonnie Corbitt
TATUM, N.M. Services for Lonnie Corbitt, 91, of Tatum will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Tatum First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Louis Crenshaw and John Hogan officiating.

Maria Terrazas
LOVINGTON, N.M. Rosary for Maria Natividad Terrazas, 86, of Lovington, N.M., will be said at 7 p.m. today in Bethany Funeral Home Chapel in Lovington.

Cleo Couture
BIG SPRING Services for Cleo Couture, 74, of Big Spring will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel with Rev. Randy Hardman, pastor of First Baptist Church in Gail, officiating.

Don Carson
SEMINOLE Services for Don Carson, 88, of Seminole will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ratliff Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dan Dale of South Seminole Baptist Church officiating.

Lucille Wood
Services for Lucille Wood, 96, of Lubbock will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sanders Memorial Chapel with James G. Nunn officiating.

Reece Hester
HOBBS, N.M. Services for Reece Hester, 85, of Hobbs will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Taylor Street Church of Christ.

Mary Hallum
Services for Mary J. Hallum, 77, of Jacksonville will be held at 2 p.m. today at Griffin Funeral Home in Star City, Ark., with the Rev. Steven Tiner officiating.

Netta Adcock
LAMESA Services for Netta Adcock, 70, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Lamesa with the Rev. Don Stribling, pastor, and the Rev. Mike Wilson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Abernathy, officiating.

Robert Ivey
Services for Robert E. Ivey, 68, of Lubbock will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at W.W. Rix Chapel with the Rev. Wayne R. Williams, pastor emeritus of Parkway Drive Baptist Church, officiating.

Anita Hillhouse
Services for Anita Hillhouse, 45, of Wolfforth will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Baptist Church with Bob Parker officiating.

Cynthia Jones
Services for Cynthia Ava Jones, 87, of Lubbock will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Franklin-Bartley Chapel with the Rev. Kevin O'Brien officiating.

Lora Mullins
HASKELL Services for Lora Mae Mullins, 88, will be at 10 a.m. today at First Baptist Church in Haskell.

Lena Phillips
SAN ANGELO Services for Lena "Sissy" McKenzie Phillips, 101, of San Angelo will be at 3:30 p.m. today at Johnson's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Glen Roenfeldt officiating.

Bonnie Webb
Services for Bonnie Bell Webb, 90, of Lubbock will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Dean Harris officiating.

Herminia DePallares
PORTALES, N.M. Services for Herminia Ornelas DePallares, 57, of Portales will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Assembly of God Church with Allen Urioste officiating.

Tommie Anderson
Services for Tommie E. Anderson, 62, of Lubbock will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in W.W. Rix Chapel with the Rev. John H. Ballard officiating.

Morning blotter
Assault
Central Lubbock
At about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, police received a report of a domestic dispute. When they arrived, officers heard yelling and screaming coming from inside the apartment where a 24-year-old man and his 18-year-old girlfriend had been living together.

Cowboys faced with reality of 5-11 season
IRVING {AP} For several years, Jerry Jones has worked under the premise that with some fine-tuning the Dallas Cowboys could make another Super Bowl run.
The 2000 season proved it is time for an overhaul.

Cotton Kings notebook - December 26, 2000
Today's Game
The Cotton Kings (18-11-4, 40 points, T-2nd) were scheduled to take on the Odessa Jackalopes (18-7-5, 41 points, 1st), a team they have yet to beat this season. Two of the four games between the two teams have been decided by one goal, and the other two were three-goal games.

Fee agent baseball signings
NEW YORK {AP} The 75 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, letter agreements for major league contracts are in parentheses:

Selig proposes new baseball draft rules
NEW YORK (AP) The worst eight teams in baseball would be able to select players from the top eight in a new ''competitive balance draft'' proposed by commissioner Bud Selig.

Anything's possible in NFL playoffs
It's a perfect fit for this nutty NFL season: The St. Louis Rams barely qualified for the playoffs and immediately became the favorite in the NFC, even though they're seeded sixth and will have to win three road games to reach the Super Bowl.

Marlins sign Johnson for 5 years, $35 million
MIAMI (AP) - A day after signing a deal that could bring the Florida Marlins a new name and a new ballpark, the team added a new catcher - agreeing Monday to a $35 million, five-year contract with free agent Charles Johnson.

Ex-NFL QB Gilliam dies of heart attack
NASHVILLE, Tenn. {AP} Joe Gilliam Jr., one of the first black quarterbacks to start an NFL game but who later fell into drug addiction and a life on the streets, died Monday of an apparent heart attack, four days before his 50th birthday.

Blazers edge Lakers in West rematch
LOS ANGELES (AP) With their holiday already disrupted by having to work, the Trail Blazers figured they'd spoil the Lakers' Christmas Day, too.

Another painful fold in late season for Jets
NEW YORK {AP} As the New York Jets slumped off the field after the season finale, their body language told it all. Yet another December collapse would leave them watching the NFL playoffs on television if they could muster up the interest to watch at all.

NFL season loaded with surprises
NEW YORK (AP) - What's up Doc? Try six new division winners in an NFL season Bugs Bunny truly could appreciate, filled with upside-down standings, virtually no home-field advantage and a wild final weekend.

Weather postpones Lubbock-Odessa game
With a minimum of preparation, the Cotton Kings have a demon to exorcise: the Odessa Jackalopes.
Four times the teams have played this year, and four times the Jackalopes have won. The games have been close, like the 13-round shootout on Nov. 24 and the 1-0 loss six days later. They have also been blowouts, namely losses of 5-2 (Nov. 11) and 6-3 (Oct. 20).

Seifert, Panthers facing another busy offseason
CHARLOTTE, N.C. {AP} George Seifert thought the Carolina Panthers could make a run at the Super Bowl this year. Instead, they went 7-9 and gave him his first losing record in 10 years as a head coach.

Torn community comes together
TULIA Watching the group of blacks and whites, clapping and singing, all gathered in a warm living room decorated with Christmas lights and a beautiful tree, it was easy to forget why they were together.
African-Americans, who met at the home of white neighbors in Tulia last week, were together because their cousins, siblings, spouses or parents had been arrested during a controversial 1999 drug bust here.

Drug bust doesn't halt wedding
It wasn't a traditional wedding.
The office was cold and stale. No paper wedding bells dangled from the ceiling. No crepe paper adorned the walls.

Calif. To Set Future ISP Phone Fees
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Internet dial-up users will have to wait to find out whether they could encounter rate hikes or weakened service from their Internet service providers.

N. America Treated to Solar Eclipse
BOSTON (AP) - As celestial events go, it was no Star of Bethlehem. But skywatchers in much of North America were treated Monday to a rarity: a partial solar eclipse on Christmas Day.
People in the Northeast saw the moon blot out as much as 60 percent of the sun around midday. The solar disc looked like a yellow crescent.

Money talks, some 'Canes almost walk to Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS {AP} When Miami coach Butch Davis released more than 100 players last Friday for the holidays, he expected about a dozen or so wouldn't make it to New Orleans on Tuesday for the team's first practice.

Gray 40, Blue 37
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - In the town where his grandfather once caught political flak, Richmond Flowers III caught just about everything else.

Texas Tech football notebook - December 26, 2000
Lackluster last practice
Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach wasn't happy with the performance of the offense in Monday's last practice before Wednesday's galleryfurniture.com Bowl against East Carolina. Leach cited dropped passes and lack of focus.

Boston College 31, Arizona State 17
HONOLULU (AP) - Don't pack those bags just yet for Tom O'Brien.
The Boston College coach has been prominently mentioned for the vacancy at Virginia, but O'Brien doesn't want to rush things.

When the Pirates have the ball - Fullback Leonard Henry
Fullback Leonard Henry vs. rush defense: Henry, a 6-1, 205-pound junior, split time for most of his first two seasons before finally emerging as the team's featured back this year. Running behind a line led by two-time all-league senior C Sherwin Lacewell, Henry finished with 711 rushing yards.

Tech becomes Garrard's next target
HOUSTON In the wake of last year's tragedies on the shores of the Carolina coast, David Garrard was forced to give himself a plan: Either go to work and come together or fall apart and drift away.
Back from the brink and back from Hurricane Floyd, the 22-year-old East Carolina starting quarterback chose the tougher of the two alternatives with a two-part blueprint of action for the ugly, meek and broken situation.

Biggest surprise from golf world this year is a Lady
What surprised Bridgestone Sports about its top-selling Precept golf ball was not that players professed to get as much as 20 extra yards off the tee or that top amateurs were using it to win state tournaments.

Assistant AD says UT working to improve grad rates
AUSTIN (AP) - Just more than half of the University of Texas scholarship athletes who were freshmen in 1993 have obtained a college degree, a rate that ranks the university ninth among Big 12 schools and 5 percent below the average of 56 percent for NCAA Division I universities.

Flowers carves out new niche for name
MONTGOMERY, Ala. {AP} Richmond Flowers III, whose name was more famous in Alabama among political junkies than football fans, made a few fans of his own.

After 21 years, MSU at No. 1 again
Michigan State waited 21 years between national championships. It took a little longer for the Spartans to become No. 1 in The Associated Press college basketball poll a second time.

New bowl trying to catch on in Houston
HOUSTON {AP} Texas Tech and East Carolina will offer pass-proficient attacks in the galleryfurniture.com Bowl Wednesday night, the first bowl game played in the Astrodome since 1987.

When the Red Raiders have the ball - RB Ricky Williams
Running back Ricky Williams vs. linebacker Pernell Griffin: Griffin, a 6-3, 240-pound junior, anchors the Pirates' 5-2 defense. He missed three midseason games with a knee injury and still led the team with 87 tackles.

When the Pirates have the ball - QB David Gerrard
Quarterback David Garrard vs. front seven: Garrard is a big, mobile quarterback who has a chance to follow another East Carolina alum, Jeff Blake, to the NFL. A junior, he was named second-team all-Conference USA for the second year in a row.

Escaped convicts suspected in holiday slaying of officer
IRVING (AP) Investigators have filed capital murder warrants against seven escaped convicts in the fatal shooting of an Irving police officer who attempted to break up a Christmas Eve robbery at a sporting goods store.
''This was a well-planned and executed robbery,'' said Irving Police Chief Lowell Cannaday.

Officers surround hotel, fail to find seven escapees
ARLINGTON {AP} Seven escaped prisoners accused of killing a policeman remained at large Tuesday after law enforcement officers acting on a tip surrounded a hotel, but determined the men were not inside.
Police had been told one or more men in one of the hotel rooms were some of the escaped inmates. But after talking to them and comparing them to photos, officers decided it was a case of mistaken identity, Irving police spokesman David Tull said.

Record-setting Marshall Faulk wins MVP
NEW YORK  Marshall Faulk's record-setting ride for the St. Louis Rams earned him the NFL's Most Valuable Player award in balloting conducted by The Associated Press and announced Wednesday.

Ski Report
LEBANON, N.H. {AP}- Latest skiing conditions as supplied by SnoCountry Mountain Reports. Skiing conditions are subject to change due to weather, skier traffic and other factors. Be aware of changing conditions:

House Calls
Q: How can I avoid hydrogenated fats? They seem to be in everything.

Christmas fire kills at least 309 at China shopping center
BEIJING {AP} -- A fire swept through a central China shopping center, where a top-floor disco was packed with Christmas revelers, trapping hundreds and forcing many to try to escape out windows. At least 309 people were killed, state media reported Tuesday.

Gardeners need to tend to their beds, lawns in winter
It is winter: brown lawns, no leaves, clipped perennials. However, lawns and gardens still need to be tended. Here are steps offered by the Lubbock Master Gardeners Association and Texas Gardener for what to do in January:

Y2K hubbub largely forgotten, but lessons remain a year later
NEW YORK {AP} -- The nation's Year 2000 czar is now a deputy mayor in Washington, D.C. The $50 million Y2K crisis center houses George W. Bush's transition team. The international Y2K coordinator plans to relax with friends this New Year's Eve.

Mission Control: Radio contact lost with Mir space station
MOSCOW {AP} -- Russian Mission Control said Tuesday it had lost radio contact with the Mir space station, signaling a potentially disastrous accident that could lead the now unmanned 140-ton vessel to spin out of control and fall to Earth unguided.

Broken bones and heart attacks up with bad weather
Fractured bones, assorted injuries from car accidents and cardiac arrest from shoveling snow are among the weather-related trauma cases that have been keeping local emergency rooms busy the last two days.

Officials: Rampage may have been triggered by IRS dispute
WAKEFIELD, Mass. {AP} -- A software engineer who allegedly gunned down seven co-workers at their Internet consulting company may have been upset by a request to trim his wages to repay back taxes after the holidays, authorities said.

Weather continues to cause problems
Lubbock residents made small strides Wednesday digging out from the remnants of a severe snowstorm that virtually closed the city on Tuesday.

States increasingly list prisoners, parolees on Web
WASHINGTON  A growing number of states are offering online databases of inmates and parolees, allowing citizens to check on convicted neighbors and employers to screen prospective hires. But civil liberties groups say the Internet sites make it harder for ex-convicts to return to society.

Refugees' return, Jerusalem holy site loom large in peace push
JERUSALEM {AP} Israelis and Palestinians on Tuesday debated a U.S. peace proposal that would require each to give ground on emotional issues like control over holy sites and the right of Palestinian refugees to return.
With the U.S.-imposed deadline for an answer looming today, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said he was leaning toward accepting the sweeping initiatives if Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat does likewise.

Attackers raid armored car in Paris
PARIS {AP} Masked attackers held up an armored car Tuesday on the southeast edge of Paris, blasting a hole in the truck and escaping with at least one sack of cash, police said. One security guard was injured.

Mir fears put to rest in Russia
MOSCOW {AP} Russian ground controllers lost contact for nearly 20 hours with the Mir space station before re-establishing communication Tuesday, allaying fears the accident-prone, 140-ton vessel might have spun dangerously out of control.

Bomb Blasts Rock Pakistani Cities
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - Bombs went off in four Pakistani cities Monday, including a powerful blast that ripped through a crowded market in this eastern border city, police said. Some 45 people were injured.

Arafat, Barak Weigh Peace Treaty
JERUSALEM (AP) - Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak, two days away from a White House deadline, weighed their willingness Monday to hold a summit and sign a peace treaty. But both expressed reservations about the latest proposals which President Clinton has submitted to them.
``It is not at all easy for us to accept them,'' Israeli leader Barak told Israel's Channel 2 television on Monday night. ``The natural tendency is of course to want to make many changes in them.''

Indonesia Church Bombs Kill 15
JAYAPURA, Indonesia (AP) - President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday accused forces linked to Indonesia's former dictatorship of orchestrating a series of church bombings that killed 15 people across the country on Christmas Eve.

Fire kills at least 309 at China shopping center
BEIJING {AP} Fire swept through a shopping center in central China and engulfed Christmas revelers in a fourth-floor disco and construction workers on the floors below, killing at least 309 people.

Violence fears curb activities
LONDON {AP} NATO troops at Mass in Bosnia and Orthodox Christians in the candlelit splendor of Istanbul's cathedral kept the flames of hope and peace burning on Christmas Day, while in the birthplace of Jesus much of the season's joy was lost in the sorrow of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Chile's high court blocks Pinochet interrogation
SANTIAGO, Chile {AP} Gen. Augusto Pinochet scored a legal victory Tuesday when the Supreme Court blocked an interrogation expected to lead to the renewed indictment of the former dictator on homicide and kidnapping charges.

Yugoslav reformers' investigation may bring Milosevic to trial
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia {AP} With the levers of power now firmly in their hands after a sweeping election victory, Yugoslavia's reformers announced plans Monday to begin an investigation that could force Slobodan Milosevic to stand trial for ruining the country.

WORLD/briefly - December 26, 2000
Putin attentive to plight of poor
MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday stressed Russia's improved economy but said he's mindful that many Russians live in poverty.